Droids On Roids

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the director of a financial services platform. We partner with companies to provide their employees with zero-interest loans, especially people with a troubled credit history or no credit.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Droids On Roids?

In our sales cycle, we communicate to the employees what their options are and show them that it’s easy to use. Previously, we only had a web platform where they signed up on our home page with their email verification and login. However, a lot of the demographics we are dealing with don’t have laptops or PCs; they are more mobile oriented. We needed to offer a mobile app to increase conversion within the workforce.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We had a high-level idea of how our app should look. We wanted to keep it simple with as few clicks as possible to take out a loan. We wanted it to be intuitive and not too sophisticated. Droids On Roids helped us to develop the prototypes. We mapped out the user flow and created mock-ups, and then, they did the final wireframes and took it from there.

They designed the app for both iOS and Android, but currently, since the vast majority of our users have Android phones, we’re targeting only Android. iOS will come later.

What is the team composition?

We had one project manager, one Scrum master, one designer, two Android developers, and one QA engineer.

How did you come to work with Droids On Roids?

We reached out to our LinkedIn network to see if anyone had recommendations for an affordable development team. A former colleague of my CTO worked with Droids On Roids and introduced us. They made it into the top three teams that we were considering. In the end, they were the best. Their portfolio looked good, and we felt strong compatibility with them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $55,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in December 2018, and we launched in April 2019. They maintain our app on a monthly basis, and they continue to improve our app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We were thrilled with the results. Their forecasting was incredibly accurate. They were great at estimating the workload and forecasting the hours and cost involved. There was dynamic communication. It was impressive.

How did Droids On Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

I can’t praise them enough when it comes to project management. It was excellent. Their scrum process is exceptionally well-thought-out. We have standing meetings, a refinement meeting, and a backlog planning meeting. They make my life easy. They’re direct with what they need from me as the product owner. The documentation is great. They provided us with Google Sheets to track progress.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I especially liked that they went a step beyond the scope and questioned some of our processes. Then, they suggested ways they could do it better.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I’m delighted with the whole process. There’s some inflexibility when it comes to meetings due to the time difference. They have to be early in the morning or late at night. It’s nothing that can be changed, though.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Be diligent when it comes to the backlog. Get granular with what product features you’re looking for and what the objectives are because it will allow them to better forecast. Stay committed to that roadmap and don’t change things last minute. Due to their rigid process, they’re not fond of changing things last minute.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the president of Very Good Ventures, a technology studio based in New York City. We create lasting partnerships with brands to design, build, and manage apps and technology solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Droids On Roids?

We needed additional expertise to collaborate with our team for mobile development, specifically with respect to Android and Flutter.

What were your goals for this project?

We prioritized seamless integration with our team and high-quality code delivery.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We had phone interviews and ultimately decided to work with them based on their experience and professionalism.

Describe the project in detail.

Our team is supported in our ongoing project work by a team of mobile/Flutter developers.

What was the team composition?

Primarily, we work a Flutter developer, but the team has also included a project manager and a QA engineer.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

The Droids On Roids team has become an integral part of our team. We trust them, too, which is the ultimate sign of success.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

The different time zones can be challenging. However, we’ve established some practices that have reduced this strain.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Their communication, professionalism, and experience stand out to us.

Are there any areas for improvement?

They could be located in the same time zone, but that is not possible.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

We are an IT company that provides software and mobile applications for Swiss banks. I'm the head of our mobile team.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Droids on Roids?

We needed to redesign a mobile application, as we were moving to apps that are native. We wanted a company that understood the behavior and best user experience for these applications, and the differences between platforms for Android and iOS. We also wanted a team that was knowledgeable about mobile user journeys and user-friendly applications.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

This was a complete redesign for the app. There are some classic banking app elements. Users can see their portfolio, accounts, balances, and there are templates to buy and sell shares, search for bank information, and other standard functionality.

We tracked the outcomes and defined what was important at the beginning of the project. They shared results with us throughout the process, and we used an InVision prototyping tool as we received the design in different stages. At the end of the project, they sent the full Sketch file, which we started to use internally. They did a lot of work that we're currently maintaining.

What is the team composition?

We have one point of contact who acts as our primary designer.

How much have you invested with them?

At most, we spent the equivalent of about $20,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together around October 2018, and the project was completed in February 2019. I recently asked about their availability for future collaborations.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The finished product is very well made, and we use their patterns across the whole application. They made development very easy.

How did Droids on Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

We've had no problems with their project management. The designer kept everything well organized and kept all their promises.

We set up an online communication through Slack. Anytime we needed deeper clarification, we had a call with them and our offshore business analyst. We've never had a problem with any communication or time difference. They're flexible and a pleasure to work with.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have great knowledge about mobile apps. The designer delivered screens and checked in with the developers to make sure everything was easy to implement. We wanted to introduce a lot of native elements, without anything custom. They had the knowledge to serve our needs, and they checked all the Apple and Google deadlines to make sure we stuck to best practices and were up-to-date.

Are there any areas they could improve?

I don't think there's anything they should improve. Our experience was great.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

When my colleagues saw the results, they all wanted to hire them. I'd love to keep them for myself.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the founder and managing director of Holdapp, a mobile app development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Droids On Roids?

We engaged Droids On Roids to help us develop a frontend web panel for a third-party client.

What were your goals for this project?

The web panel needed to help accountants and administrators manage user data. It forms part of a larger system we are developing for our client.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

We’d worked with Droids On Roids on previous projects using their mobile app development resources. We decided to engage their web development talent based on our past positive experiences with them.

Describe the project and the services they provided in detail.

Droids On Roids provided a React resource who developed the frontend web panel. He used designs and an API that we had created in advance. 

What was the team composition?

We worked with a frontend developer with strong React knowledge. 

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any information that demonstrates the impact that this project has had on your business?

The project is still underway, but Droids On Roids’ part is complete. We plan to launch the full system by the year’s end.

How was project management arranged and how effective was it?

Our PM managed the resource and integrated him into our internal processes. He adjusted well and worked seamlessly alongside our team.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

Droids on Roids provided highly self-reliant and proactive resources. Whenever the developer encountered a problem or an unclear task, he solved the issue quickly.

Are there any areas for improvement?

No, we’re satisfied with their work.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

Rabbit Sp. z o.o. is a producer of systems for the control, management, and monitoring of street lighting. We specialize in the production of equipment and systems for control and monitoring of external street lighting, road and architectural, reduction of the lighting cost, management of lighting in industrial facilities. I’m the director of research and development, responsible for creating new solutions in the field of lighting control.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenges were you trying to address with Droids On Roids?

Our company needed an application for Android devices to control one of our products using Bluetooth technology.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

They were responsible for creating our application, from the UX project to programming. Despite the lack of a detailed description of the project on our side, we were offered preliminary mock-ups by Droids On Roids. We then discussed the method of data exchange communication to make it as smooth and comfortable as possible. The user or service technician can handle all the devices in their possession from the application level.

What is the team composition?

They established a team of five people to work on our project. There was one scrum master, 2–3 developers, one frontend engineer, and a QA tester.

How did you come to work with Droids On Roids?

I found them through a Google search when I looked for a company located in Wroclaw. I visited their website, and I was intrigued by their portfolio. After checking a few of their presented projects, and I liked them.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent between $23,000–$25,000 on this project.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with them in February 2016. Six months ago, in late 2018, we made several improvements in the app.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

The application is available on Google Play and has been downloaded more than 500 times. Since then, we have sold over 3,000 devices that cooperate with the application.

How did Droids On Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

We usually worked in one-week sprints, with one or two meeting per month to evaluate the scope and discuss details. We used Jira, sending our suggestions to the project manager. Our feedback was very quickly implemented to project.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I most appreciate their quick understanding of our needs, not only regarding the appearance of the application itself but also with communication and the data exchange protocols used with the drivers. Their quality of work, knowledge, and experience were impressive.

Are there any areas they could improve?

It's hard for me to notice mistakes; it was our first venture into this type of project. Everything seemed new but effective.

Any advice for potential customers?

It’s very important to describe and present your needs and expectations. The better you prepare, the better Droids On Roids can work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the head of IoT platform development at a company that develops IoT solutions.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Droids On Roids?

We approached Droids on Roids to develop an Android app that would be an integral part of our client’s IoT use cases. 

What were your goals for this project? 

Quite plainly, our goal was to fulfill our client’s needs and requirements.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

Our lead developer shared mutual contacts with Droids on Roids, so we contacted them. The initial interaction with their account manager went well, and it was clear that our companies were on the same wavelength. They also provided examples to showcase their capabilities, which made the decision easy. 

Describe the project in detail. 

Droids on Roids created an Android app that would play a key role in communicating between an IoT sensor/device and the backend of our client’s IoT platform. Before starting the project, we provided Droids on Roids with mock-ups of the app along with a set of requirements to meet. They then establish end-to-end communications between the IoT device and backend within the first few sprints. The following sprints had dedicated objectives to take us closer and closer to the full product release.  

What was the team composition? 

Their team consisted of two Android developers, a tester, and a Scrum master who worked with our product owner.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

We don’t have any quantitative metrics to share due to an NDA with our client, but Droids on Roids performed well. Because we collaborated so closely throughout the project, we always knew what they were working on and how it fits with our development. 

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs? 

The workflow was effective and efficient. We had full access to their Jira board, which allowed us to plan sprints together in an open atmosphere, and they always took into consideration any potential delays caused by holidays and work speed. If there were any questions about the requirements, we discussed them within a dedicated Slack channel. 

What did you find most impressive about this company? 

The most useful part of the collaboration was being able to work with a company that had an instinctive agile mindset. We learned a lot of practices from them, which helped us improve on our own development. 

Are there any areas for improvement? 

It’s hard to point out any areas for improvement because the project went so well.  

Do you have any advice for potential customers? 

For IoT projects with multiple components in the field, it’s very important to have end-to-end tests early on. This is definitely easy to achieve when Droids on Roids is your development partner.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior director of software platforms for an electronics company. We make and sell 3D speaker systems. 

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Droids On Roids?

We needed an app for iOS and Android devices to control one of our products through Bluetooth technology. We brought on Droids On Roids for development.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We provided a general overview and some basic mockups. Droids On Roids turned this into a fully-fledged design—complete with graphic design assets. The team created a prototype from scratch in six weeks for a conference we were attending. We then committed to full-scale development. Each app took 3-4 months. They made the Android version using Java and Kotlin and the iOS version using Swift. The team completed work using agile development. At the end of each week-long sprint, we reviewed their work and provided feedback to inform the following week’s sprint. 

The app connects to a 3D speaker system that can generate 3D effects that vary depending on where listeners are sitting. The app allows users to mark their location relative to the speaker, which would then adjust its performance accordingly. Users can also control the audio, save and load settings, and equalize graphics.

What is the team composition?

We worked with 4-5 people on each stage. A scrum master led a team of developers using week-long sprints, and two people provided graphics. I acted as product owner and had the final say on their work. 

How did you come to work with Droids On Roids?

We found them through online searches. After considering a few vendors, we pursued Droids On Roids to complete this project. Their top-notch reviews, reasonable rates, and demonstrated expertise in our discussion made them our first-choice vendor.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent $140,000. 

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked together from November 2017–July 2018.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Droids On Roids delivered high-quality applications that met our requirements. We’re highly satisfied with their work.

How did Droids On Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

They were one of the best companies I’ve ever worked with. The team’s commitment to a truly agile development process deeply impressed us. They met every deadline and kept their progress up-to-date on Jira. I had full access to their bug tracking system and code repositories, which made the collaboration completely transparent from start to finish.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Droids On Roids ran highly productive sprints. I knew precisely what they were working on at any given time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, we’re thrilled with their work. 

Any advice for potential customers?

Provide an internal point of contact to keep track of their progress; it will help make sure that Droids On Roids is fulfilling your requirements. Their team strongly encourages this oversight and made it easy to keep track of their work.

BACKGROUND

Please describe your company and your position there.

I’m the co-founder, managing director, and CTO of a startup called HSPal UK Limited. We formed the company to help all UK-based small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in the hospitality industry with managing their food and health safety.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

For what projects/services did your company hire Droids On Roids?

We hired Droids on Roids to develop a native iOS app for iPads. They also supported our backend structure and configured our product website to deliver an easy-to-use experience.

What were your goals for this project?

We were looking for a developer who could challenge our ideas to make them more intuitive and user-friendly. At the same time, we also needed help setting up the backend architecture and related processes, including the CMS and product site.

SOLUTION

How did you select this vendor?

A colleague referred us to them. Out of the four other competitors we considered, Droids on Roids stood out for their fast and professional approach. They delivered the quote quickly and outlined how the collaboration would work, including the requirements and processes. Everything was well-organized, and they felt trustworthy.

Describe the project in detail.

Droids on Roids built an iOS app that enabled our users to log in, manage their accounts, and monitor processes related to health and safety. We initially conducted a two-day discovery workshop to go over the project before moving on to the first stage of planning. During this time, we prioritized the tasks, divided them into sprints, and agreed on the scope of work.

From there, they developed the app, supporting us with the backend architecture and configuring our product site. This helped users better understand our system, which would have otherwise been very complex, fractioned, and hard to manage.

Due to the project length, we used an agile methodology and divvied the work efficiently between the team. At the end of each sprint, they ran their deliverables through multiple layers of testing and implemented the new features.

What was the team composition?

We started with two frontend developers, one backend developer, one designer, a project manager, and a client happiness officer/growth manager. Later in the project timeline, they added a second backend developer. They were a great team, and we miss working with them.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

Can you share any outcomes from the project that demonstrate progress or success?

After we launched the app, we immediately received amazing feedback on its functionality and UI elements—in particular, users liked the circular dials used to speed up user log processes. Clients found our solution intuitive and easy to operate, especially considering the complexity of our idea. It was a win-win situation.

How effective was the workflow between your team and theirs?

Droids on Roids offered several communication and tracking channels, which made the whole process very efficient. They organized dependencies smoothly, and our project managers gave us frequent updates. I appreciated their transparency across all aspects, which allowed us to have full control over the project. This included team tracking, sprint planning, day-to-day communication, project code updates, data and file sharing, and version testing.

The team used an agile methodology, which enabled them to deal with unexpected turns swiftly. They provided alternative options to address issues and recommended ways to best handle the current situation. If we had any extra requests, they were happy to implement them while also challenging us to ensure proper functionality.

What did you find most impressive about this company?

I’m impressed with their multi-layer testing method, and their code writing skills are particularly exceptional. Even six months after release, we’ve only found a single minor overlook out of 51,000 lines of code, and I’m convinced that their work is virtually bulletproof.

Are there any areas for improvement?

This was a hard project for everybody due to its scope size and length. However, we didn't experience anything concerning, and we’re happy with the final the result. The design and UI solutions exceeded our expectations.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the CEO of a startup that’s developing an app to help users find small jobs in the gig economy. I founded the company and am also an investor in it.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Droids on Roids?

After finding out that none of the apps currently on the market had been created specifically for the gig economy, we set out to build one. I contacted Droids on Roids about providing us development services. 

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Droids on Roids took care of every aspect of our platform, from the login and interface to the core logic. They developed the iOS mobile part of the platform based on the web version I built with another vendor which was a more affordable option than starting from scratch.

Droids on Roids challenged our concept productively. During the three days we spent working together, we addressed several flows for the product and finalize our concept. By the end of the workshop, we received a starting estimate of the product along with an initial design. 

Most of our efforts focused on creating an interesting interface. We needed to design a UI that wouldn’t annoy or frustrate users. The app lets users create several profiles, given that there are multiple skills one might leverage in the gig economy. The likelihood of being recruited largely depends on how they design their accounts, so it includes useful guidance on arranging separate skills into one or more profiles to maximize exposure. 

What is the team composition? 

Droids on Roids set up a team of 10 people to work on our project.  I was assigned one scrum master, two mobile developers, two backend engineers, and QA testers. Around 6–7 people, depending on the stage.

How did you come to work with Droids on Roids?

I found Droids on Roids through a Google search. Even though I had already established relationships with other companies, I was intrigued by their portfolio. They offered me the option to conduct a workshop, which seemed very promising.

How much have you invested with them?

We spent below $300,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with Droids on Roids in April 2017.  I had to end the collaboration in December 2018 due to a lack of funds.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Since we haven’t launched the product yet, I only have internal feedback rather than metrics to share at the time. Everyone who has seen the app, including the partners of our company, have told me they liked it. Users have particularly appreciated the UI. 

Droids on Roids was highly proactive and regularly proposed new solutions unprompted. We were particularly impressed by the workshop they set up. Their great ideas often changed my point of view on the original concepts I had in mind. 

The team’s insight greatly enhanced our ability to understand our idea in full. The other company we worked with was less motivated about suggesting an approach and would wait for our specifications instead.

How did Droids on Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

I was involved in the planning and development phases. We held at least two meetings per week to review the work we had completed in between.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciated the caliber of services Droids on Roids delivered. Despite how expensive the process has been, they’ve produced a high level of code quality and focused attention on our engagement. 

Droids on Roids performed very skillful work. At one point, I asked a different company to perform a code review to ensure everything was on track. The third-party team confirmed the standard of their documentation and every aspect of the software they developed.

Are there any areas they could improve?

The multiple changes I requested increased the final budget past the initial estimate, which I didn’t feel was accurate, to begin with.  I’d like to see them predict more realistic project costs. 

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of IT for a used car retailer. We are an e-commerce site, and we deliver cars to customers’ doors.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with Droids on Roids?

We needed new full-stack developers for our website redesign and were having trouble finding new internal hires. Specifically, we needed fluency in PHP and JavaScript. We decided to outsource, and I felt confident they could handle our project.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

With support from three of their developers, we’ve completed the site redesign and moved on to work on maintenance and new features. Because they’re so integrated with our team, it’s hard to say who did what exactly. Droids on Roids worked on an online financing calculator, specifically on the contact formula. They’ve also worked on responsive elements on the site. We expect to launch the latest version in a few weeks.

What is the team composition?

We worked with one person from their team initially. Later, we needed a second developer, and a third joined us a few weeks ago. We generally don’t use them for project management as we have our own scrum masters, product owners, and managers. Wojciech (CEO, Droids on Roids) is my main point of contact.

How did you come to work with Droids on Roids?

I found their website and thought their price was reasonable. Also, they’re from the same city in Poland as me, and it’s easier to communicate in your native language. I speak German and English as well, and Droids on Roids’ people speak English, but using Polish is easier.

How much have you invested with them?

We have spent $10,000–$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We began working with them in May 2018, and the engagement is ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

It’s hard to pinpoint measurable results because we evaluate Droids on Roids based on how fast they work relative to our internal people and the quality of their code. If someone’s underperforming completely, we’ll approach the problem, but we don’t track specific measurements otherwise.

How did Droids on Roids perform from a project management standpoint?

As I’ve mentioned, we handle the project management, but they’ve been proactive about contact. They’ve identified problems as quickly as possible, whether through software or video call. We use Slack and Jira to coordinate.

What did you find most impressive about them?

Droids on Roids provides good engineers, regardless of their programming language background. Although they specialize in Ruby on Rails, they’ll accommodate any other language.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, I can’t think of anything for the company as a whole.

Do you have any advice for future clients of theirs?

Clients should be open and transparent about their needs.